Question

In php, is there any difference between using

$myClass::method()

and

$myClass->method()

What’s the reason for the change? (I believe -> has been around longer.)

I could see a point of using :: for methods and -> for properties or vice versa.

Answer 1

:: is the scope resolution operator, used for accessing static members of classes.

-> is the member operator, used for access members of objects.

Here’s an example:

class Car {
   public $mileage, $current_speed, $make, $model, $year;
   public function getCarInformation() {
      $output = 'Mileage: ' . $this->mileage;
      $output = 'Speed: ' . $this->current_speed;
      $output = 'Make: ' . $this->make;
      $output = 'Model: ' . $this->model;
      $output = 'Year: ' . $this->year;
      return $output; 
   }
}

class CarFactory {

    private static $numberOfCars = 0;

    public static function carCount() {
       return self::$numberOfCars;    
    }

    public static function createCar() {
       self::$numberOfCars++; 
       return new Car();
    }

}    

echo CarFactory::carCount(); //0

$car = CarFactory::createCar();

echo CarFactory::carCount(); //1

$car->year = 2010;
$car->mileage = 0;
$car->model = "Corvette";
$car->make = "Chevrolet";

echo $car->getCarInformation();